Weighing and labeling system

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for automatically weighing and labeling random weight articles as they are being packaged. The articles are moved along a path to a wrapping station by conveying means and a weighing station is located along the path. The weighing station has a weighing mechanism which produces an output that is fed to a computer or other type of device for determining the total price of the article based upon a price per unit of weight. The total price, as well as the price per unit of weight, and the total weight are supplied to a printing mechanism that is disposed adjacent the path of movement of the advancing packages and automatically prints this information on labels that are applied to a continuous supply of film. The printing could also include product identification information, if desired. Furthermore, the printing could be done directly on the film. The feeding of the film and the articles is synchronized so that the portion of the continuous film having the printed information thereon moves into package forming relationship with the article corresponding to the information, whereupon, the article is then completely enclosed by the film to produce a finished package.

United States Patent Bush et al. 1 Mar. 21, 1972 [541 WEIGHING ANDLABELING SYSTEM 3,162,258 12/1964 Schmidt ..177/52 x [72] Inventors:Robert G1 Bush; Gilbert H. Hannon, both Primary Examiner prankw Lune:

of Green I Assistant Examiner-Steven L. Weinstein [73] Assignee: L. I).S hniber Che C I Attorney-Dressler, Goldsmith, Clement & Gordon [21]Appl. No.: 9,578 A method and apparatus for automatically weighing andlabeling random weight articles as they are being packaged. The ar- 5211s. (:1. ..99/171 R, 53/14, 53/28, Picles are moved s f PP E Swim byconvey- 53/59 W, 177/4, 177/DIG. 3, 235/61 p mg means and a weighingstation 1s located along the path. 511 1111.01 ..B65b 11/12 The welghmghas a welgh'ng mechanism 581 Field of Search ..99/171 R, 178; 53/14, 28,59 w, pmfiuces wi is fed 3 9 tYPe 0f 53/59; 177/34, 52, mg l DIG 3;235/58 PS 61 device for determmmg the total price otthe art1cle basedupon 156/362 363 566 360 a price per un1t of weight. The total price, aswell as the price per unit of weight, and the total weight are suppliedto a print- 56] References Cited ing mechanism that is d1sposed ad acentthe path of movement of the advancing packages and automatlcally printsth1s infor- UNITED STATES PATENTS mation on labels that are applied to acontinuous supply of v film. The printing could also include productidentification in- 3,540,97l 1 H1970 .lohanski, J1. 1 77/3 X formation fdesired. Furthermore the priming could be done 2,259,866 /1941 Stokes..53/l4 directly on the film The feeding of the m and the articles is3,244,278 4/1966 weprm et "99/171 R UX synchronized so that the portionof the continuous film having 218371837 5/1959 y 59 w UX the printedinformation thereon moves into package forming 3,289,386 12/1966 Farmer"99/171 R Ux relationship with the article corresponding to theinformation, 3,276,526 10/ l 966 Loshbough "177/3 whereupon, the articleis then completely enclosed by the film 3,384,524 5/1968 Hansen, Jr156/360 to produce a fi i h d package 3,342,661 9/1967 Arvidson et al......156/363 X 3,194,710 7/1965 Stremke et a1 ..l56/362 X 9 Claims, 1Drawing Figure 10 TUB/N6 P/eobucr was supp y i 26 l snuff? 14 12 /6647554: e g g o o o Mar/ I I 64 16 12 i2 sw 22 12 av 2,0 IE/GIVINGMECI/flN/SM f 0 WEIGHT IVE/ID -our PRICE PEK f Pbl/ND 1 PEI/V727? 0/1/1062 NWT/FR man 250 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates tomethod and apparatus for automatically packaging food products and thelike, and more particularly to an improved method and apparatus forautomatically weighing and labeling food products and the like as theyare being packaged.

In recent years, it has become common to automatically package varioustypes of articles, such as food products and the like, on automaticmachinery which produces flexible containers that provide light,compact, economical and attractive packages for individual articles. Onemachine which has been commercially available for many years for thepackaging of food products produces packages for articles from acontinuous web of stock material and transforms the web into a tubularmember surrounding the articles moving along a predetermined path. Thetubular stock material is then sealed along the overlapping edge andsubsequently is sealed between adjacent articles and cut transverselybetween the articles to .produce individually packaged articles. Suchmachines are generally disclosed in the technical reference manualFlexible Packaging in Maraflex copyright l96l by Marathon, a division ofAmerican Can Company. The present invention has utility with the abovementioned type of equipment, as well as with various other differenttypes of equipment for packaging random weight articles.

Many articles which are packaged as described above are of the type thatare sold for a total price based upon a price per unit of weight and thetotal weight of the article within the package. Examples of articlespackaged by the above methods and sold on this basis are cheeses, meatsand various other food products. Thus, it has become customary in theindustry to utilize additional automatic weighing and labelingmechanisms for the packaged articles after the articles have beencompletely packaged so that the final product would have the appropriateidentification thereon including the total price of the article, thetotal weight, the price per unit of weight, as well as some type ofcommodity identification. One such type of weighing and labeling machineis disclosed in Hanson U.S. Pat. No. 3,384524.

However, it will be appreciated that the above arrangement requires twocompletely separate operations for packaging and subsequently weighingand labeling the packaged articles. Such an arrangement is not only timeconsuming but requires considerable expenditure in the form of variousmachinery as well as suitable conveying means for positioning of thelabels and for performing the automatic functions. Such machinery andconveying means necessarily requires a considerable amount of space forthe appropriate relationship between the various machines producing thevarious individual functions and additional personnel for operating thevarious machines.

Furthermore, in weighing and labeling packaged articles, it becomesnecessary to compensate for the weight of the container or package,particularly when low density articles are packaged which require arelatively large amount of packaging material for a given weight, orwhen large articles are packaged which require packages of substantialsize and weight. An additional problem of the prior art method ofpackaging and labeling is that difficulty is encountered in obtainingproper adherence between a label and the container with certain types ofproduct being present in the container at the time the label is applied.For example, some difficulty is encountered in applying a label to apackage containing a product having an uneven surface, such as Swisscheese.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates amethod and apparatus for automatically weighing and labeling randomweight articles as they are being packaged. In the illustratedembodiment, the packaging apparatus is disclosed in connection with acommercially available machine of the above mentioned type whichutilizes a flexible continuous web of transparent, flexible packageforming material which is formed in a tube with its longitudinal edgesin overlapping relationship.

The longitudinal edges arethen heat sealed and the article is physicallydisposed within the tube and the tube is sealed transversely at spacedpoints between the articles and subsequently severed along thesetransverse seals to produce individually packaged articles.

In this type of operation, the articles are moved alongone path and thepackaging film is moved along a second path, with the two pathsintersecting and the packaging and sealing operation being performedbeyond the intersection of these two paths.

According to the present invention a weighing station is provided alongthe'path of the moving articles which incorporates weighing mechanismthat automatically weighs the articles as they are moving along a pathand produces an output corresponding to the total weight of the article.This output is fed into a computer means which also has a price per unitweight information supplied thereto, and the computer produces an outputin the form of a total price for the article based upon the selectedunit price. The total price information, as well as the price per unitof weight and total weight, are fed to a printing mechanism which isdisposed adjacent the path of the moving film, and an impression isformed on a label that is physically attached to the film or directlyimpressed upon the package material. The extreme advantage of theparticular method and apparatus is that substantially all of themachinery required is of the commercially available type which canreadily be purchased as standard components and would require only minormodifications, if any.

Thus, the present invention contemplates a method of automaticallypackaging, weighing and labeling articles by moving the articles along afirst path, weighing the articles while they are in the first path,computing a total price for the article based upon a price per unit ofweight, transferring the total price, the weight, and the price per unitof weight to a printing mechanism which is disposed adjacent the path ofmovement of continuously advancing packaging film, printing theinformation for each article on labels that are attached to the film andsubsequently packaging individual articles with the portion of thecontinuous film having the information corresponding thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SINGLE VIEW OF THE DRAWING The single view ofthe drawing schematically illustrates a packaging machine having thepresent invention incorporated therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION While this invention is susceptible of embodimentin many difierent forms, there is shown in the drawing and will hereinbe described in detail only a preferred embodiment of the invention,with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be consideredas an exemplifrcation of the principles of the invention and is notintended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

As shown in the drawing, the present invention is illustrated inconnection with a packaging machine including conveying means 10 forcontinuously moving random weight articles 12 from a loading station(not shown) along a predetermined path to a packaging station 14. Theconveying means is in the form of chain conveyors l6 and 18 which aredisposed end-toend, and according to the present invention, a weighingstation 20 is located between adjacent ends. Each of the conveyors 16and 18 has a plurality of lugs 22 mounted in spaced relationship to eachother with the lugs moving the articles 12 along a rectilinear path.

The packaging machinery further includes means for continuouslysupplying film for the articles to the path of movement of the articles.This film is in the form of a continuous web 24 of sheet material of thetransparent plastic type would on a reel or roll 26. At the packagingstation 14, the web 24 of sheet material is transformed from a fiatconfiguration to a tubular configuration by suitable mechanism 28, suchas shaper elements of the type disclosed in our copending applicationSer. No. 615,121, filed Feb. 10, 1967 now US. Pat. No. 3,542,570 Theflat web 24 of material is' formed into the tubular or cylindricalconfiguration along the path of movement of the articles, and thearticles are physically transferred into the tube. Thereafter, thelongitudinal overlapping edges of the web are suitably interconnected,as by heat sealing mechanism 30, and the articles and film tube continueto move as a unit along a predetermined path.

At a subsequent station, the film is interconnected transversely betweenadjacent articles, as by a suitable sealing mechanism in the form of apair of power driven rolls 32 driven by a motor and syncronizingmechanism 35 and 34 having circumferentially spaced lugs 36 and 38,respectively. The lugs 36 and 38 are appropriately spaced on the powerdriven rollers 32 and 34 so as to come into engagement with opposedsurfaces of the film to seal the facing surfaces together to formindividual article containing packets. Preferably, the lugs 38 alsoinclude cutting means 40 for automatically severing the packets alongthe transverse seal to produce individually packaged articles 42 thatare received on an exit conveyor 44 and transferred to an area forfurther processing.

According to the present invention, the articles 12 are weighed at theweighing station prior to being received in the packaging means 24. Forthis purpose, the weighing station 20 incorporates weighing means 50 fordetermining the total weight of each of the articles 12 as they aremoving along a path. The weighing means may be in the form ofa shortconveyor section 52 interposed between the conveyors l6 and 18 andmounted in such a manner that the lugs 22 on the conveyor 18 will forcethe articles 12 onto the short belt section 52. As each article 12 isbeing moved from the entrance to the exit end of the belt 52, the totalor tare weight is determined by the weighing mechanism 54 and issupplied to a computer 56 through a weight readout means 58. Thecomputer 56 is of conventional design and determines the total price ofthe respective articles based on the total weight received from theweighing means 50 as well as the selected price per unit of weightsupplied to the computer from the mechanism or selector 60.

The total price, price per unit of weight and total weight informationof the articles are supplied to printing means or mechanism 62 which isdisposed adjacent the path of the continuous supply of film 24. Printingmechanism 62 is adapted to impress the various figures uponcorresponding labels from label supply 70. Again, for purposes ofillustration, this is accomplished by a suitable switch 64 locatedadjacent the conveyor 52 and actuated by lugs 66 on the conveyor 52. Thelugs 66 may be arranged in a manner that they will be disposed in thepath of the switch arm and actuate the switch arm after an articleleaves the weighing conveyor 52 and prior to a subsequent article 12being received on the conveyor. Alternatively, the printing mechanismcould be actuated by a photocell unit at the weighing station that wouldgenerate an appropriate signal for energizing the printing mechanism inresponse to the presence of an article at the weighing station. Thepower driven roller 32 draws the film from the roll 26 at a ratecorresponding with the speed of movement of the articles 12 while thefilm or material 24 is intermittently supplied with labels bythe'printing mechanism 62.

Thus, it will be appreciated that the present packaging method iscapable of automatically weighing the articles as they are moved along apath; computing a total price for each article based upon the price perunit of weight for the article; printing a label for each article withthe total price, as well as the tare or total weight, and the unitprice; attaching the label to a package for the article; andsubsequently packaging the article with its associated label so that acompleted package is produced which has the appropriate value thereon.

While the weighing mechanism has been disclosed as being of the conveyortype, it is readily apparent that various other types of commerciallyavailable weighing mechanisms may be used. For example, a mechanism ofthe type disclosed in Arvidson et al. US. Pat. No. 3,342,661, whereinthe articles are moved across a scale by pusher members disposed abovethe platform for the scale. The computer and printing mechanism may beof the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,329,807, with minormodifications. Alternatively, the apparatus, with some modifications,disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,194,710 may be utilized as the computing andlabeling mechanism. The above patents are incorporated herein byreference to the extent they are not inconsistent with the presentdisclosure.

What is claimed is:

l. A method for automatically weighing, labeling and packaging aplurality of random weight articles moving along a main flow pathcomprising the steps of weighing said articles as they are moved alongsaid path; supplying the weight to a computer and computing a totalprice for each article based upon a price per unit of weight for saidarticles; supplying the total price to a printing mechanism and printinga label for each article with said total price; attaching said labels toone surface of a package forming material for said articles; moving saidmaterial with said labels attached to said path at a rate correspondingto the speed of movement of said articles; enclosing successive articleswith said material in such matter that each label is positioned betweensaid surface and said article to produce a packaged article having itscorresponding total price thereon.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, in which said material is in the formof a continuous thin film-like web and said labels are attached to asurface of said web; the further improvement of transforming said webinto a tube along said main flow path and in surrounding relation tosaid articles moving along said path; and sealing said tube tocompletely enclose individual articles.

3. A method of weighing, labeling and packaging food products and thelike which comprises the steps of advancing individual quantities ofrandom weight food products and the like in spaced relation to eachother along a path; weighing each quantity as it is moved along saidpath; supplying the weight to a computer and computing a total price foreach quantity based on a price per unit of weight; advancing packageforming material toward said path; transferring the total price to aprinting mechanism; transferring the total price from the printingmechanism onto the advancing material; delivering said material to saidpath with each printing synchronized with the corresponding individualquantity; and enclosing the individual quantities of food products andthe like with said material and with said printing being located betweenthe material and the food products and the like.

4. A method as defined in claim 3, including the further steps ofsupplying unit price and tare weight information for each quantity tosaid printing mechanism; transferring the total price, unit price andtare weight onto the material by printing such information on labels atspaced sections of the material corresponding with each package; andattaching the labels to a surface of said material.

5. A method as defined in claim 3, in which the total price istransferred directly from the printing mechanism to one surface of saidmaterial.

6. A method as defined in claim 3, including the further step ofdelivering labels to said printing mechanism for receiving said printingand attaching said labels to said material.

7. A system for automatically packaging and labeling random weightarticles comprising: conveying means for moving articles in spacedrelation along a path; and first means for continuously supplyingpackaging material for said articles to said path; the improvement ofweighing means disposed in said path for determining the weight of eacharticle; computing means cooperating with said weighing means andproducing a total price for each article based upon said weight and aprice per unit of weight; printing means receiving said weights and saidtotal prices, said printing means cooperating with said first means forimpressing successive areas of said packaging material with weights andtotal prices for successive articles, said first means including meansfor delivering said material to said path with the impressionssynchronized with the associated article; and mechanism for enclosingsuccessive articles with areas of said material having the associatedweight UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3, 5 ,773 Dated March 97 Invent r( ROBERT G. BUSH and GILBERT H. HANNONIt is certified that error appears in the ebove identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 19, after "unit" add of Column 2, line 75, "would" shouldread .wound Column 3, line 16, after -"32" add and 3 Column 3, 'line 17,delete and 3 Column l, line 27, "matter" should read manner Signed andsealed this 11th day of July 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD MELBTCHER, JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof. Patents FORM PCMM'O uscoLm-m" Mam- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 5 ,773 Dated MarCh 197 InventorROBERT G. BUSH and GILBERT H. HANNON It is certified that error appearsin the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 19, after "unit" add of Column 2, line 75, "would" shouldread .wound Column 3, line 16, after "32" add and 3 Column 3, "line 17,delete "and 3 Column 4, line 27, "matter" should read manner Signed andsealed this 11th day of July 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD I LFLE'ICHER, JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting OfficerCommissioner of Patents

1. A method for automatically weighing, labeling and packaging aplurality of random weight articles moving along a main flow pathcomprising the steps of weighing said articles as they are moved alongsaid path; supplying the weight to a computer and computing a totalprice for each article based upon a price per unit of weight for saidarticles; supplying the total price to a printing mechanism and printinga label for each article with said total price; attaching said labels toone surface of a package forming material for said articles; moving saidmaterial with said labels attached to said path at a rate correspondingto the speed of movement of said articles; enclosing successive articleswith said material in such matter that each label is positionEd betweensaid surface and said article to produce a packaged article having itscorresponding total price thereon.
 2. A method as defined in claim 1, inwhich said material is in the form of a continuous thin film-like weband said labels are attached to a surface of said web; the furtherimprovement of transforming said web into a tube along said main flowpath and in surrounding relation to said articles moving along saidpath; and sealing said tube to completely enclose individual articles.3. A method of weighing, labeling and packaging food products and thelike which comprises the steps of advancing individual quantities ofrandom weight food products and the like in spaced relation to eachother along a path; weighing each quantity as it is moved along saidpath; supplying the weight to a computer and computing a total price foreach quantity based on a price per unit of weight; advancing packageforming material toward said path; transferring the total price to aprinting mechanism; transferring the total price from the printingmechanism onto the advancing material; delivering said material to saidpath with each printing synchronized with the corresponding individualquantity; and enclosing the individual quantities of food products andthe like with said material and with said printing being located betweenthe material and the food products and the like.
 4. A method as definedin claim 3, including the further steps of supplying unit price and tareweight information for each quantity to said printing mechanism;transferring the total price, unit price and tare weight onto thematerial by printing such information on labels at spaced sections ofthe material corresponding with each package; and attaching the labelsto a surface of said material.
 5. A method as defined in claim 3, inwhich the total price is transferred directly from the printingmechanism to one surface of said material.
 6. A method as defined inclaim 3, including the further step of delivering labels to saidprinting mechanism for receiving said printing and attaching said labelsto said material.
 7. A system for automatically packaging and labelingrandom weight articles comprising: conveying means for moving articlesin spaced relation along a path; and first means for continuouslysupplying packaging material for said articles to said path; theimprovement of weighing means disposed in said path for determining theweight of each article; computing means cooperating with said weighingmeans and producing a total price for each article based upon saidweight and a price per unit of weight; printing means receiving saidweights and said total prices, said printing means cooperating with saidfirst means for impressing successive areas of said packaging materialwith weights and total prices for successive articles, said first meansincluding means for delivering said material to said path with theimpressions synchronized with the associated article; and mechanism forenclosing successive articles with areas of said material having theassociated weight impressed thereon.
 8. A system as defined in claim 7,further including means supplying labels for said impressions, saidlabels having means for attaching to said material.
 9. A system asdefined in claim 7, in which said impressions are transferred directlyonto one surface of said material.